City of Westminster (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A pop-up theatre described as resembling a “Minecraft tree” will be built on the former Marble Arch Mound site, with Westminster confirming a 2026 opening.
At a meeting last night (December 9), the planning commission of Westminster City Council unanimously approved the request.
From April 1, 2026, until June 30, 2028, the theater will be open daily from 9 a.m. to night and serve up to 500 patrons.
The point will serve as a temporary installation for the Art Theatre while its Great Newport Street structure undergoes a 24- month addition starting in 2026, according to Andrew Mills, head of operations for HH Production Limited, the aspirant.
He claimed that Marble Arch was the “perfect fit,” with several machine routes and first- rate transportation connections guaranteeing that callers could fluently reach the theater.
Speaking at the planning meeting, he said:
“We want to replace one cultural institution with another within the borough. We want to ensure continuity of our staff – our intention is to retain employment of the staff at the Arts Theatre with them transferring over to Marble Arch in due course.
We want to offer a fresh and exciting cultural space for Londoners and visitors alike, drawing visitors to the iconic location of Marble Arch and the surrounding area.”
According to him, the theater will be rebuilt somewhere after the two-year time and will be “highly sustainable” with a 20-year existence. Where it will be moved is unclear.
Numerous local organizations and clubs, notably the Marble Arch Business Improvement District, supported the application. Marble Arch is home to an “emerging” arts and entertainment scene, according to Chair Kay Buxton, and locals have shown support for these facilities.
The western end of Oxford Street, which is considered to be “intimidating and unwelcoming” after dark, would see an increase in foot traffic, according to her. The plan was approved by all five committee members, who also requested that HH Productions provide certified security on the property when it opens.
Members questioned the use of green cladding; Cllr. Jim Glen said it
“looked like a Minecraft tree,”
while Cllr. Patrick Lilley remarked it looked
“sad and a little bit plain.”
An earlier design with red cladding, according to a council planning officer, would have been a “blot” on the landscape and probably would have caused Historic England to complain. He said that the building “complimented” the Grade I listed Marble Arch landmark and that the green design was “sensitive to [the site’s] surroundings.” The property was never meant to be used for construction.
In spite of this, Historic England stated in a council proposal that the temporary building would “detract from the dominance of the arch” and that lights and conspicuous lettering would have a negative effect.
According to the site’s planning application, the structure is anticipated to be 10 meters high and have an aluminum frame covered in lightweight material composed of recycled fabric strips.
The building’s base is anticipated to be made of reclaimed lumber boards that have been dyed or whitewashed, and the strips will be green. The paved courtyard south of Marble Arch will serve as the entryway.
Inside, there will be a small bar in the middle and a foyer that spans the entire width of the rectangular structure. At the western end of the structure, the stage will be encircled on three sides by shipping containers that will be converted into offices, dressing rooms, and restrooms.
The location is designated as Metropolitan Open Land, which is the same level of protection as Green Belt land for open spaces in London that are strategically significant to the city. The Marble Arch Mound was located there from July 2021 to January 2022.
In 2026, the Arts Theatre on Great Newport Street will close for a 24-month renovation. December 31, 2025, will mark its last performance.
What are the design features that make it resemble a Minecraft tree?
The crucial features are its veritably blocky, stacked, “pixelated” figure and the way those blocks are arranged vertically like a box with a cover on top, which echoes how trees are erected from cells in Minecraft.
The structure is composed of repeating boxy or blockish units, giving it a stepped, voxel ‑ like figure rather than smooth angles. These modules are piled in categories that pooch out at different situations, analogous to how Minecraft trees are formed by layering blocks to suggest branches and leafage.
Because both box and cover are expressed as sharp ‑ edged boxes, the overall figure looks like a large in‑game tree or fantasy “treehouse” rather than a realistic civic tree, egging the “Minecraft tree” marker.
